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Local food economy
Supporting our Local Food Economy means taking action to make it easier for people to buy and eat good food that’s been produced locally. See what actions the Bristol Good Food Partnership are prioritising to do this.
What’s it about?
Although around 80% of food consumption happens in urban areas, cities can easily become removed from the food supply chains that feed them. When we grow more of our food closer to our homes, urban areas become more resilient, relying less on imports and empowering communities to take direct control of the food they eat from a supply chain they can see for themselves. We can then prioritise farming that regenerates the landscape and uses fewer pesticides.
When the Local Food Economy begins to fail, the impacts are felt throughout the city. Independent businesses struggle to survive on local high streets, jobs are lost and access to good food is reduced. With fewer local producers and suppliers, we rely more heavily on imports and big supermarket and restaurant chains, reducing the economic benefit felt locally and often contributing to a higher carbon footprint. Check in below for progress updates about work on this issue and the Local Food Economy priorities.
Working Groups
There are two Working Groups within the Local Food Economy theme, the Infrastructure Working Group and The Procurement Working Group. The procurement group consists of representatives from North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol City Council, Dynamic Purchasing UK and University of Bristol. This group meets every month for one hour.
The organisations that make up the Infrastructure Working Group are Bristol Living Wage City, Feeding Bristol, Kate’s Kitchen Catering Ltd, Poco Tapas Bar, Source Foodhall, The Assemblies Ltd (The Canteen, No.1 Harbourside and The Old Market Assembly), The Community Farm, University of Bristol and Bricks Bristol. This Working Group also meets each month.
Priorities
All Bristol Good Food 2030 Working Groups aim to take a whole food system approach, meaning that the work considers and takes action on food in many settings, involving key actors at every level. Here are the five key priorities for the Local Food Economy theme.
Priority 1:
Increase engagement in the good food economy across the city (increase diversity and inclusion across the workforce and in entrepreneurship).
Priority 2:
Ensure that food stays at the top of the city-wide agenda.
Priority 3:
Support more local businesses to become Living Wage accredited (aim for 10 new employers per year to become Living Wage accredited).
Priority 4:
Significant growth in procurement (in particular public sector) from local and regional sustainable suppliers.
Priority 5:
Encourage less and better meat to be eaten across Bristol, through adaptation of procurement and catering practices.
Progress Updates
November update
Read More about the story: November update.First meetings
Read More about the story: First meetings.Join the conversation
So, what change do you want to see happen that will transform food in Bristol by 2030? Do you already have an idea for how Bristol can make this happen? Join the conversation now.
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